Traffic signaling system



June 16, 1936. v w LEONARD TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor; Vincent W Leonard, y 00% His At'i'orneg.

June 16, 1936. v. w. LEONARD 2,044,617

TRAFFIC S IGNALING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f! l-1 W 4 Inv ent or 1 Vince-HE W Leonard, 3 Mg/ HIS Attorneg.

June 16, 1936. v w, LEONARD 2,044,617

TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor 1 Vincent W Leonard 7 67 by WM His Attomeg.

June 16, 1936. w, LEONARD 2,044,617

TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 92 98 9/ Invent or 94 Vincent \Xl Leonard by M60) His Attorney.

jam A Patented June 16, 1936 PATENT Price TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM Vincent W. Leonard, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 6, 1930, Serial No. 418,805

11 Claims.

My invention relates to traflic signaling systems and to apparatus especially adapted for use therein. More particularly the invention relates to the type of system in which the signals are adapted to be operated automatically from a central point; to a system in which a given relation is maintained between the signals at consecutive road intersections along a given highway; and to a system in which the signals are operated from a central point and in which the relation mentioned' may be changed from the said central point without the necessity of having to send someone to each intersection.

In certain types of traffic signaling systems it is common practice at times to operate the light signals along a highway, such' as the green signals, simultaneously. At other times the signals may be operated progressively at a particular rate and at still different times these same signals may be operated progressively at a different rate. Heretofore such changes have been carried out by sending someone to each controller, or receiver as it is sometimes called, to set it in proper relation to the other controllers along the high- 25 way. It is an object of my invention toprovide signals are operating in such manner that the reen signals along the highway all come on simultaneously they may be reset from a central point to appear progressivelyand such that, when desired, the control apparatus may be reset again back to the original relation so that all the green signals may again appear simultaneously. In other words, it is an object of the invention to provide, what I have called, a double reset signal.

The following detailed description will enable the features of the invention to be more fully understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a system, in diagrammatic form, comprising the features of the invention. In this figure the apparatus indicated in the upper part of the drawing represents two of a series of intersections and a signal station at each along a main highway with the corresponding set of signals of each sta-' tion under the control of a local receiver. In the lowerpart oi the drawing the apparatus there indicated represents the central station apparatus, including the transmitter, through the me- E dium of which the receivers are operated. Portions of the double reset means are located at the various intersections in thereceivers and portions are located at the central station, forming part also of the central apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows the transmitter of .the central apparatus without the reset means of Fig. 1 in perspective.

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically the transmitter of Fig. 2 and the portion of the reset means that belongs in the central ofiice diagrammatically.

Fig. 4 shows in perspective one of the receivers of Fig. l for controlling the signals at one of the intersections.

Fig. 5 shows the same device in a so-called exploded view and in perspective.

Fig. 6 shows the receiver of Figs. 4 and 5 diagrammatically.

Fig. '7 shows in plan view a modification of one of the sets of contact springs used in the receiverof Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 shows a section taken along line 8-8, Fig. 7, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. i

Fig. 9 is a section taken along line 99, Fig. '7, in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a modification in perspective of the ratchet driving arm, Fig. 6, and of the pin thereon.

Fig. 11 shows a section taken along the axis of one of the pins on the arm, Fig. 10.

Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are diagrammatic representations of different relations of the receivers along a highway. Fig. 12 shows the receivers in synchronism and arranged to maintain the signals in a relation of non-progression. Fig. 13 shows the same receivers out of synchronism. Fig. 14 shows the same receivers in synchronism, indicating the double reset means and indicating a relation of progression of the signals.

Fig. 15 shows the same receivers in synchronism and in such relation as to produce non-progression of the signals.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a modification of one of the elements of the receiver, Fig. 6.

Referring more indetail to the drawings, the transmitter shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and in the lower part of Fig. 1 is operated by any suitable motor. In the drawings an induction motor M is indicated for this purpose comprising an armature disk 2 and a pairof field magnets 3 adapted to be connected to any source of current such as the ordinary light or power circuit. The

armature 2 is connected, through a series of gears, see Fig. 3, with a shaft 4, on which latter are mounted a pair of cams 5 and 6 for operating the impulse springs l and 8 respectively with respect to their corresponding contacts 9 and 10, through the medium of which springs the impulses are produced for operating the receivers along the highway. For this purpose the springs 1 and 8 are connected respectively with conductors 1' and 8' and the contacts 9 and I8 with the conductor 9'.

" On the same shaft 4, to the right of cams 5 and 6, Fig. 8, there is mounted another gear II in mesh with the gear |2 for operating a cam l3 included in the timing or reset means of the systems through the medium of which cam the contact springs I4, l5, and I6 are operated, said springs constituting'also part of the reset mechanism. The said springs, as shown, are connected respectively with the conductors l1, l8, and i9.

The motor is provided as usual with a pair of shading coils 20 and 2| for regulating the speed of the motor. These shading coils are mounted on the ends of the cores of the coils 3, next to the disk 2, one on each side thereof. The shading coil 20 is mounted on an adjustable shaft 22 for varying the position of this shading coil about the axis of the shaft with respect to the shading coil 2|. This adjustment is facilitated by the provision of a lever 23 on the end of the shaft 22, through the medium of which lever the shaft may be-rotated any suitable degree about its axis, thus correspondingly varying the position of the shading coil 20.

In the group of gears shown in Fig. 3 for driving the shaft 4, gear shifting means is provided for varying the speed of rotation of the shaft 4, this shifting means comprising a pair of gears 24 and 25 which are secured together on the sleeve 26, which latter is in driving engagement with the shaft 4, but may be slid along the shaft either to the right or to the left for the purpose of bringing the gear 24 into engagement with the gear 21, for producing one rate of rotation of the shaft or for substituting the gear 25 in engagement with the gear 28 for producing a different rate of rotation. It willbe understood that when the gear 24 is in engagement with the gear 21 the gear 25 is out of engagement with the gear 28, and vice versa. The shifting operation of these gears 24 and 25 is accomplished through the medium of the lever 29, which latter is connected with a cam element 30, see Fig. 2. This cam element, as shown, is provided with "a slot 3|,

through which a pin 32 extends. This pin is located on the shaft 33 to rotate therewith for shifting the cam 30 to the right or to the left as the case may be depending upon whether the pin 32 is rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise, Fig. 2. To facilitate this movement of the cam 38, a lever 34 is provided on the end of the shaft 33. By operating the lever 34, the'gears 24 and 25 may be shifted back and forth on the shaft 4 for the purpose described.

In Fig. 1 a pair of receivers A and B is shown connected in multiple and for thispurpose a cable-comprising conductors 35, 36, 31, 38, and 39 is provided. While I have shown only two receivers any number may be connected in multiple along the same cable. Each of these receivers consists mainly of a circuit controller, a motor for driving the controller, contacts operated by the controller in a predetermined sequence to correspondingly energize the intersection signals, and a part of the synchronizing or double reset, mechanism. As shown the conductors 38 and 39 of the cable are connected with a suitable source of current G, such as a direct current generator, one terminal of which generator is connected to the conductor 39 and the other terminal of which is grounded, the conductor 38 and the spring 5| with a stem 58, both of which being also shown grounded to complete the circuit.

It will be understood that the receivers are duplicates of' each other and therefore it will be sufllcient to describe the receiver A in detail. In Fig. 1 the corresponding parts of the receivers A and B are shown similarly located. The receiver A includes a ratchet step-by-step mechanism which is operated through the medium of a pair of electromagnets 40 and 4|, which I have rep- 1 resented as solenoids. These electromagnets are energized alternately to oscillate the arm 42 about the axis of a shaft 43, see Fig. 5. Arm 42 is a part of the ratchet mechanism and is provided with a pair of pins 44 and 45 for engaging alter- 1 nately the teeth shown on the periphery of the detent wheel 46. The wheel 46 is adapted to rotate, along with a disk 41, about the axis of a shaft 41', the rotation being produced by the alternate energization of the magnets 40 and 4|, which effect alternate-engagement of the pins 44 and 45 with the teeth on the wheel 46. Disk 41 is provided near its periphery with a ring, of perforations 48, see Fig. 4. For use in connection with these perforations I provide a pair of pins 49 and 50, either one of which is adapted to be placed in engagement with any one of the 'perforations. Preferably these pins may be threaded and the perforations may be correspondingly threaded so that the pins may be 3 screwed into place. In proximity of the disk 41 I provide a set of contact springs 5| and 52, each of which is provided with a set of contacts, the spring 5| with the contacts 53 and 54 and the spring 52.with the contacts 55 and 56, the contacts 53 and 55 being on one side and the contacts 54 and 56 on the opposite side of their corresponding springs. in Fig. 6, the spring 52 is provided with a stem 51 stems, as shown in Fig. 4, are mounted in operative relation with respect to the disk, the relation being such that the stem 51 stands in the path of the pin 50, whereas the stem 58 stands As indicated in Fig. 1 and as shown in the path of the pin 49. As shown in Fig. 4, in 45 the preferred arrangement the stems 51 and 58 are folded over toward the disk 41, the stem 58 being folded over the stem 51 and standing sufficiently above the head of the pin 50 so that the pin 50 may pass under the stem 58 without operating the latter, but operating'the stem 51. On the other hand, the pin 49 is made with a diameter sufllciently small'to enable it to pass by the stem 51 without operating the, latter and suillciently high to engage the forward portion of 5 the stem 58 for operating the latter.

The springs 5| and 52 and the pins 49 and 59, as will be more fully explained, constitute part of the double reset mechanism. The double reset means also comprises an electromagnet relay at each receiver. For example, the reset mechanism at the receiver A comprises the relay 59, which latter has under its control the contact spring and a pair of corresponding contacts 6| and 62, between which contacts the spring 60 is located. Through the medium of the electromagnet 59 the spring 60 may be made to engage either one or the other of the said contacts. When the spring 60 is in engagement with the contact 62, that is, when'the electromagnet is deenergized, the solenoid 40 is under the control of the spring 52 and therefore under the control of the pin 50. When theelectromagnet 59 is energized and the spring 60 is in engagement with the contact 6|, the electroaocaerr magnet 40 is under the control 01 the spring 5i and therefore under the control of the pin 49.

Referring to Fig. ,4, it will be seen that the stems 5? and 58 project through the front plate 63 of the frame of the receiver, which plate, as shown, is hinged to the box 64, which encloses the whole mechanism of. the receiver. 'Referring to Figs. 4 and 5;it will be seen that the solenoids M and ll are secured ,to the back plate 85 of the receiver. The two plates 83 and 65 of the frame are adapted to be secured through the medium of the posts 66 and screws 61, which latter extend through suitable perforations in the plate 65 and engage the threads in the ends of the posts to.

As shown in' Fig. 5', the electromagnet 59 is also secured to the plate 55 and in any suitable manner.

Beyond the detent wheel 46 and adapted to roiate therewith and located along the shaft ll, see Figs. 5 and 6, a number of cams are provided which are divided into two sets. One set comprises the cams 68, .69, and m, and'the other set comprising the cams ll and F2. Through the medium of the first set of cams the arm T3 is operated for operating in turn the contact springs M, '35, it, and i1 with respect to their corresponding contacts ill, F9, to, and lil respectively. As shown in Fig. 6, the springs M and it are connected with conductors t2 and lit respectively, while springs "it and ll are connected with conductors 8d and t5 respectively. Also the contacts 13 and is! are mounted on the conducting support ill which latter is connected with conductor while contacts so and ill are mounted on the conducting support 92 which latter is connected with conductor fill.

The other set of cams, that is, the cams ll and 12, is used for controlling an arm 83, the function of which arm is to restore the arm it) to its initial position. For example, as the shaft ll advances under theaction of the magnets all and l 3, the arm it passes from the larger diameter of cam to the cam 5d of the same diameter, thence down on cam l9, and finally baclr in engagement with the cam 68 on. the lower diameter thereof. While the arm '03 is in this last-position the arm passes from the higher diameter of cam ll to the cam it of the same diameter, and thence to the intermediate diameter of cam M and finally to the lower diameter 01" earn ll, reaching this lower diameter in two steps. The result of this arrangement is that as the shaft M rotates, the arm l3 oscillates, oscillating in turn the stem 69 of insulating material mounted on the outer end of the arm ill for operating the springs l6 through 'l'l. During each cycle of operation the stem 59 assumes four different positions, as indicated by the four parallel lines a-c, b-h, c-c, d/d. Figs. 1 and 'l, with the result that the sig-- nals R, AM, and G, indicating respectively red, amber and green, along the main highway and R, AC, and G, indicating respectively red, amber and green, along the cross road are operated in proper sequence. For example, in the position c-c the arm l3 is in the highest position, that is, in the position of'largest diameter of the cam tit. In this position the contacts l5 and "ill will be in engagement, giving the G signal on the main highway and the R signal on the cross road. The arm next passes to the position d-d, in which position the above signals persist, and in addition, the contacts 11 and BI are in engagement and the signals AM come on, indicating caution on the main highway. In the next position a--a the signals above indicated are all retired and instead thereof the signal R appears on the main highway and G on the cross road, the contact I4 engaging the contact Hi. It is at this point that arm 88 and the cams H and 12 come into play, carrying the arm l3 back to an intermediate position indicated by the line b-b, in which position the contact it engages the contact and the amber signal AC comes on, indicating caution on the cross road. From this point the arm 13 is then carried to the original position c--c, after which the signal is repeated. This specific signal control means forms the subject matter of and is more-fully described in the U. S. Patent 1,851,247, issued March 29, 1932 to Chester 1. Hall.

For the purpose of adjustment, the shaft 41, to which the cam ill, Fig. 4, is secured, terminates in a lever arm ill; the cam 69 is secured to a sleeve lZfl, over the shaft 41 that terminates in the lever arm 69'; the cam l2 issecured to a sleeve l2l that terminates in a lever arm 12'; the sleeve 620 passing through the sleeve I2I; also the detent wheel t6 and the cam H are secured in common to a sleeve in that terminates in the disk 41, the sleeve l2! extending through the sleeve H22. The cam 58 rides loosely on the sleeve I120 but is locked to the cam ll through the medium of the stem 023, as shown. With this arrangement the cams 69, it, 112 may be adjusted with respect to each other and to the remaining cams about the axis of the shaft Ml, which is common to all of the cams, to the wheel Ml, and to the disl; 41?. Through the medium of the said lever arms all of the cams and the wheel 36, the disk fill and the lever arms themselves all normally rotate in unison when the wheel 66 is rotating inasmuch as all of these elements are interlocked through the medium of the interlocking medium shown in front of the frame plate 63, which in terloclring mechanism comprises the lever arms mentioned, suitable detents thereon and the serrated marginal portions shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the springs 7d through all and their corresponding contacts lit through all are supported by a block Elli of insulating material, the springs l4 through ll being secured thereto on the forward side as shown in Fig. 4. and the" contact supports 9i and 92 being secured to the rear side as shown in Fig. 5. The block all is in turn secured to the frame of the receiver in any suitable manner as for example between the plates 63 and th through the medium of screws for example, the block being shown provided with openings F53, on both sides for this purpose.

-Referring to Figs. 7, 8, and 9, thedetailcf a preferred form of construction and the method of assembly of the springs under the control of the arm :75 and of the corresponding contacts are shown. In these figures the springs are'numbered M through W and the corresponding contacts til and Q2. It will be seen that all of these elements are. supported on an element 90' of insulating material. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the contacts @l and 92 are secured to the rear of the element til, while the springs l4 through l'l are mounted on the opposite side, see Fig. '7, these springs being pivotally held in place by means of a pin 93, the head of which, as shown in Fig. 9, is threaded, being shown in this figure example, the spring l5, Fig. 8 is mounted on the element through which the pin 93 passes. This element 95 is .formed with a heel extending toward the rear of the unit, Fig. 8, under which heel a coiled spring 96 is provided for normally bia the element 95, and therefore the spring 115' toward its corresponding contact it on the element 9!. supporting and biasing structure. Electrical connection is maintained between the springs 75, for example, and the corresponding terminal till by means of the flexible conductor 9%. A similar means of connection is provided between the spring 'M' and the terminal 99, the spring it and the terminal i it and between the spring ll and its terminal till. i

Figs. 10 and ll show a modification of arm 52, Fig. 5, and of the pins thereon. It will be seen that the pins it and 35' on the arm (32' for operating the detent wheel iii are not rigidly mounted on the supporting arm, but arefieaibly mounted in order to soften the stroke between each pin and the detents on the wheel The nature of this flexible arrangement .is clearly illustrated in Fig. 11, the pin 65 being inserted in a conical opening in the element 12' in order to enable it to shift in any direction about the central axis of the opening against the cushioning action of a coiled spring M2 the pin being normally biased in the position shown in Fig. ll. by

the coiled spring.

Referring again to Fig.6, the details of the operating means between the springs i and 52 and the dial ill including the pins 69 and 5t] and the stems 577 and 58 are clearly shown. As shown, both of these elements 57 and 58 are mounted on a common shaft Hi3, about the axis of which either of the elements bl and 58 is adapted to be oscillated independently of the other by the corresponding pins 50 and it. The springs 5i and 52 are normally biased so that the contacts 5d and 56 are normally engaged by the respective springs, and elements ill and E58 are biased to wards the disk 57?. The illustration is so clear that it is thought that no further description than that already given is necessary for a full and clear understanding of the relation between the disk 41, the pins t9 and W, the elements toll and 58, and the springs hi and In this same Figure 6, the relation between the relay 59 and its spring til is clearly shown, the relay 58 being provided with an armature I04, through the medium of which the spring 6b is operated back and forth between e contacts 6! and 62. p

Referring again to Fig. l, and in particular to the cm H near the bottom oi the drawing with its springs l4, and it, in the position shown the springs 65 and it are in engagement while the spring i4 is maintained out of engagement with the spring 05 by means of a pin 805, which latter is secured to the spring it. As

the cam advances in its rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow the spring it clears the heel I06 of the cam and falls on to the surface iil'l. As a result the spring i6 disengages from the spring l5 and a substitute connection is established between springs i5 and it. As the cam continues to advance the spring 55 also clears the heel I06, at which time the original relation of the springs, that is, the relation shown in the drawings is reestablished until the cam makes another revolution, whereuponthe same operation is repeated. Therefore, the springs it and i5 remain in contact for only a short interval during each cycle or revolution of the cam. In the system of Fig. 1 when the receivers A. B. etc. are in Each of the springs is provided with a similaraoora'.

synchronism, all of the respective springs 52 operate in synchronism with the spring l5 under the control of the cam l 3. The same is true with respect to .the respective springs 58 of the receivers, that is, the springs 56 operate in syn- 5 chronism with the spring 9 5 under the control of the cam. The relation of all of the receivers is such that when they are in synchronism the springs 5i or 52 are in engagement with their corresponding contacts hi or 56 at each receiver 10 at the same time that the spring 95 is in engagement with the spring it and also springs 5i or 52 are in engagement with their corresponding contacts 53! or 55 at each receiver at the time that the spring is in engagement with the 15 spring [141. 11, from any cause any receiver falls out of synchronism with the transmitter, the disc ill of such receiver will be brought to a stop until the transmitter catches up, as will be more fully described. The function of the earn it and of the reset elements comprising springs ti and 52 and the pins 59 and hit is to automatically maintain the receivers in synchronism. But before, describing this feature I will describe how the synchronizing operation may be obtained manually after which the automatic resynchronizing operation will be more easily understood. For example, the motor M being in operation, the springs l and 8 are operated to alternately send impulses along the cable conductors 3t and ill bg. way of their corresponding contacts 9 and it]. Assuming that all of the receiver springs lit are'in engagement with their corresponding contacts tit, as indicated at station E, Mg. 1, and

that the relays 59 are all deenergized, as indiconductor H08 and conductor 9' to the contact 9,

thence by way of spring l, conductors ll, 36 and lit, toand through the solenoid ti, thence by way of conductor iii to the cable conductor 38, to ground and back to the source of current.

The path of the impulses through the solenoids 6B is as follows: From the source ofcurrent G, over the same path as far as the conductor 9, thence by way of contact ill and spring 8, conductor 8' and switch M2 to the cable conductor 377, thence by way of branch conductor M3 through the contact 55 and spring 52 and by way of contact 62 and spring through the solenoid 40, and thence by way of conductors i i i and 38 and back to ground. In the due course of rotation of the disks 4? of station A, the pin 50 advances 60 into engagement with the stem 51!, as indicated at station A, the final movement being effected by magnet H. The result is that the spring 52 is shifted from contact 56 to contact 55 and that the circuit for the solenoid 40 is interrupted, it being understood that switch H8 at the transmitter is open. The receiver B, however, since it is indicated as being behind and out of synchronism with receiver A will continue to advance until its pin 50 reaches stem 51, and when its pin 50 reaches its stem 51 the receiver B will also stop for the same reason as receiver A, at which time the spring 52 is shifted from contact 56 into engagement with contact 55. At any time thereafter if switch i H is closdall of the receivers will again advance simultaneously in synchronism inasmuch as the reset or alternate circuit is closed for the solenoids 40 by way of switch I 14. As a result, the disks 41 are advanced one step, whereupon the springs 52 all fall back into engagement with their corresponding contacts 56. From this point on the solenoid 40 continues to be energized alternately with the solenoid 4| over the original circuit by way of the switch H2. 7

As long as the switches H2 and H4 are both closed, the disks 41 will continue to advance indefinitely even though one of the receivers were to fall behind the other. However, if a traflic omcer, for example, were to report that one or more of the receivers are out of synchronism, as indicated in Fig. 13, the central oflice attendant will open the switch M4 for an interval of time longer than the time that it takes a disk 4'! to make a complete rotation, 100 seconds, for example. The result is that. all the receivers will be again brought into synchronism, as indicated in Fig. 12, and upon closing the switch H4 again the resynchronized receivers will then proceed to operate in synchronism. It will be seen, therefore, that by the manual operation of the switch Il l any receiver that has fallen out of step with the remaining receivers may be brought back into synchronism from the central ofiice by the attendant.

Having described how the equipment may be operated manually to resynchronize the receivers, I will now proceed to explain how the synchronization may be automatically maintained through the medium of the cam it which may be considered as a substitute for the switches lit and M2, and as a means for automatically periodically closing and opening the same circuits.

In order to substitute the automatic resynchronizing means for the manual the switches H2 and iii are left open and the switch M5 is closed. As a result of this change, the path over which the solenoid it is energized is changed so as to reach the cable conductors iii and by way-oi the spring l5 and of the springs it and iii, but the path over which the solenoid ii is energized is not affected.

Again assuming that the springs 52 arein engagement with the contacts as shown in connection with station E the impulses from the spring 8 pass over the conductor 8', thence by way of switch M5 to the springs l5 and it (when the springs l5 and it are in contact), thence by way of. the conductor it to the cable conductor 31 and by way of the contacts 56 and springs 52, contact 62, springs BUTEO thesolenoid it and back to the source of current. Assuming that these impulses bring the disks M of stations A, B, C,

Fig. 12, into the positions of synchronism indi-- cated and that at the same time the spring i6 clears the heel not, the alternate or reset circuit for the solenoids fill ,is closed when the spring il engages the spring B5. The next impulse from contact spring 8 will therefore find a closed path over the reset circuit by way of the springs it and it, contacts 55 and springs 52, with the resuit that the receiver A, as well as the receivers B and C, Fig. 12, will advance and restore each its springs 52 into engagement with the corresponding contact 56. By that time the spring i5 under the control of the cam l3 also clears the heel Hi6 of the cam, thereby restoring the original energizing circuit for the solenoids by way of the springs I B and I5, contacts 56 and their correspending springs 52 over which circuit the receivers are carried forward in synchronism.

With the foregoing arrangement, therefore, if any receiver such as the receiver A, Fig. 1, or receivers A, B, or C, Fig. 13, reaches the position, indicated in Fig. 12, in which the pins engage the stems 51, before the cam l3 places the springs l4 and IS in contact, these receivers will stop and wait in this position until the spring 16 clears the heel I06 of the cam l3. At that instant all of 10 the receivers that have fallen out of step with cam l3 will start forward in synchronism.

Let us now assume that all of the pins 50 of the receivers A, B, and C are placed in one of the holes 48 of the disks 4! which may be designated 15 as the zero position corresponding for example with the radius r, as indicated in Fig. 12. That being the case, if the receivers are all operated in synchronism the cams of the various receivers will be maintained in a relation which we will 20 assume to be such that the green signals will all operate simultaneously along the main highway. Under such conditions the cams behind disks 4'', and therefore the cams that control the arms 13 may be said to have no angular displacement. 25

This relationI have diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 12, where I have indicated with receivers A and B a third receiver C along the main highway of Fig. 1. In Fig. 13 I have indicated the condition that would exist when the receivers are 80 out of synchronism, the displacement being indlcated by the displacement of the radii 1 which I have assumed to be 45 between A and B and 45 .between B and C. All of these receivers in Fig.

13 may be brought back into synchronism, as in-, dicated in Fig. 12, by the method already indicated, either manually or automatically. That, is they may be brought back manually by opening the switches lit and M5 and closing the switch M2 9. sumcient length of time to bring all the re- 7 ceivers to a stop with no angular displacement between the radii r of the various receivers as in Fig. 12. ,Thereupon closing the switch i ll will cause the receivers all'to start simultaneously in synchronism, it being assumed that the green sig- 45 signal of the preceding station, this can be done by displacing the pins 50, as indicated in Fig. 14, along the radii r, s, and t. I have indicated a phase displacement of 45. Assuming the time of revolution of the disk 41 to be 100 secondathe lapse of time between two succeeding greensignals, will, of course, be 12 seconds.

in order to enablethe signals to be brought back into a condition, or phrase relation of nonprogression, that is, so that the green signals for example, will all come on simultaneously, the pins d9 of the receivers A, B, and C may each be placed in a hole 48 along the radius 11 Fig. 15, which is assumed to be the 275 radius with respect to radius r. In other words,'there is no phase displacement between the radii of the stations A, B,

and C when the receivers are in synchronism. For a better understanding of the invention I have also shown in this figure the radii r, s, and t and the pins 50. It will be seen from Fig. 15 that the displacement betweeii the radii r and 11 76 is the same at each station, while the displacement with respect to s and t, which produces a progression, varies.

With the arrangement of the pins 9 and 59, as indicated in Figs. 14 and 15, the change from progression to non-progression of the group of green signals along the main highway, for example, consisting of one signal in each set, may be obtained from the central point by closing the switch H6, while switches M2 and [I M are open and l i5 is closed. The result of this closure is that all of the reset relays 59 will be energized in multiple by a'fiow of current from the source G. As soon as these relays are energized at the sta tions A, B, etc., the contact springs-til will be shifted from engagement with their contacts into engagement with their contacts 6 0, thus sub= stituting the second reset springs and their corresponding contacts 5 5 and 53 for the springs 52 and their corresponding contacts and 56 for the control of solenoids at. As long as the springs 5i remain in engagement with the corresponding contacts 54 the solenoids it will be energized as before over the cable conductor 31 as a result oi impulses transmitted through the medium of the contact ill and contact spring 8 at the transmitter, the energizing circuit extending by way' of cable conductor 37, contacts 56, springs 5i, contacts 6i,

' and spring 60, to the solenoids MD. The energize,-

tion of solenoids M, however, is over the same paths as before and the alternate energization. of the solenoids w and ill will cause the receivers to advance simultaneously. It will be seen that while any relay 59 is energized the pin Elli of the corresponding receiver has no eflfect on the corresponding solenoids it. Instead of the pin lit! the pin 49 now plays the same part played by the pin 50 except that the operation is now directed to the spring 5i. When the disk ll! advances so that the pin 49 engages the stem 5d the original energizing circuit for the magnet ill is interrupted and an alternate or reset circuit is substituted therefor by way of contact spring 5i, contact 53, cable conductor 35 and springs i l and [15. The operation of each solenoid Ml over the alternate or reset circuit advances the disk 47 so that the corresponding pin 49 disengages the stem 58, thus.

nals will appear simultaneously.

Obviously, when the pins 39 line up as shown in Fig. 15, the pins 58 will become displaced as shown, as long as the relays 59 are energized this displacement will be of no significance, but ifit is desired to restore the signals from non-progress'ion, Fig. 15, to progression, Fig. 14, this can be done by opening the switch H6, thereby deenergizing the relays 59 and switching the reset control to the pins 58, which will automatically realine these pins 58 as indicated in Fig. 14, restoring the order of progression; In each of these Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15, it is assumed that the green signal comes on when the radius 1' passes a given position, represented by the line L-L. However, some other radius may be selected and also some other position. This can as for example, along the radii 7'.

aoaaew be done by changing the angular relations of the cams 68 through E2, the arms 13 and 88 and the disks 41 with respect to each other. Referring to Fig. 14, therefore, inasmuch as the radii r of the stations, A, B and C are displaced with respect to line li -L, the green signals will appear in progression, that is, in a displaced order. In Fig. 15 there is no such displacement between the radii r of the diiferent stations, indicating therefore that there is no progression. The same thing is true with respect to Fig. 12. On the other hand, referring to Fig. 13, since the disks ll! are not in synchronism, the green signals will come on in a displaced order, but each-disk 41A and MB will come to a stop when it reaches line EFL until the cam 13 catches up.

With the means described, therefore, it is possible from a central point, or in other words from a central control point, to automatically shift from progression to non-progression by means of the switch M6. switch M6 is open the pins 5d determine one rate of progression. When the switch M6 is closed the pins 653 determine another rate of progression or non-progression. In either case, of course, the synchronism of the disks may be obtained either manually or automatically, depending upon whether the switch [H15 is closed and the switches M41 and [102 open or not, as previously described.

For the sake of clearness I have described in the foregoing the locationv of the pins ill along the radii 1 but the pins it may be located on any other set of radii having the same angular value,

when radii r are used, inasmuch as in disk 51 ofreceiver A the hole it at the end of the radius 1' must be used for both progression and nonprogression, a special double pin such as that shown in Fig. 16 must be used, which double pin combines the features of pins 5t) and t9, the upper portion of the pin representing the pin and the lower portion thereof representing the pin 58.

It will be understood that while I have described the invention in connection with the specific apparatus illustrated, I do not care to be limited to such specific apparatus, inasmuch as I contemplate modifications and variations within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims contained herein.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

i. In combination, a plurality of circuit controllers, signals operated by each circuit controller in predetermined sequence, means for However,

20 In other words, when the' continuously operating said circuit controllers,

means for synchronizing said circuit controllers including a plurality of synchronizing circuits connected to the said controller operating means, each synchronizing circuit being adapted to maintain the circuit controllers in a different timed relation relatively to each other, and means for rendering any one of said synchronizing circuits operative.

2. In combination, a plurality of circuit controllers, contacts operated by said circuit controllers in predetermined sequence, means for operating said circuit controller simultaneously in any one of a plurality of difierent relations relative to each other, and means operable from a central point for stopping all said circuit controllers in any one of said plurality of different relations and for starting them in operation in such relation.

ping of its controller, and means operable from a central point for rendering one or another of said projections at each circuit controller operative.

4. In combination, aplurality of circuit controllers, means for operating said controllers,

signals operated in predetermined sequence by ative, and means for maintaining said circuit,

controllers in the adjusted relation relatively to each other for which they are set.

5. In combination, -a plurality of circuit con trollers, each provided with contacts operated in a predetermined sequence; signals connected tq said contacts, means for operating said circuit controllers in timed relation relatively to each other, a plurality of synchronizing circuits,

means actuated by said controllersand operable through said circuits for synchronizing said cir-; cuit controllers, said means serving to maintain said circuit controllers in a different timed relation relatively to each other through each of said synchronizing circuits, and means located at a central point for selectingthe synchronizing circuit through which said controllers will be.

maintained in a predetermined timed relation relatively to each other.

6. In a trafiic-signaling system, the combination of corresponding traflic signals located at street intersections, circuit controllers for operating the signals at each intersection respectively, means for driving said controllers, means for synchronizing said controllers in any one of a plurality of operating relations including a synchronizing circuit, a plurality ofv means operated by each controller for cooperating with said synchronizing circuit for maintaining a predetermined position of said controller relative to the other controllers in the system, each of said means maintaining said controller in a different relative position to the other controllers in the 1 '7. In combination, a plurality of circuit con-v trollers spaced from each other, means for operating said circuit controllers in a predetermined phase relation relatively to each other, means for maintaining said circuit controllers in synchronism in the established phase relation,

and means for simultaneously changing the operating position of each of said circuit controllers for changing the said phase relation of said circuit controllers to another predetermined phase relation.

relatively to each other, and means operable from a central point for simultaneously changing the operating positions of said circuit controllers for operating corresponding traflic signals in a different predetermined phase relation relatively to each other.

9. In combination, a plurality of separately driven circuit controllers spaced from each other, a plurality of signals operated by each circuit controller in predetermined sequence, means for driving said controller, common timing means cooperating with said drivingmeans for continuously operating said circuit controllers in a predetermined phase relation relatively to each other, means operable from a central point for simultaneously changing the operating position of each of the circuit controllers for operating said signals in a different predeterminedtimedrelation relatively to each other, and means for maintaining the circuit controllers in synchronism in its selected phase relation.

10. In combination, a' plurality of circuit controllers spaced from each other, means for driving said controller's, means for operatingsaid controller in any one of a plurality of predetermined phase relations including means operable by each circuit controller for determining its operating position in each of said phase relations, and means controlled from a central control point for cooperating with said controller operated means to enable said circuit controllers to simul-v taneously select their respective predetermined operating positions in each of said phase relations, and means for maintaining said circuit controllersin the selected relative positions.

11. In combination, a plurality of traffic signal controllers located respectively at traflic control stations, traffic signals operated through a predetermined cycle by said controllers respectively, means for driving said controllers respectively, means for operating said controllers in any one of a plurality of predetermined phase relations including means operated by each controller for determining its operating position and sig-, 

